Monday 19th December 2005

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Multi-million ? power
station clean-up plan

by David Skentelbery
A MULTI-million ? plan to install equipment to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions from the giant Fiddlers Ferry Power Station, near Warrington is to be put to planners for a second time next week.
The scheme, involving installing flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) equipment in all four generating units at the plant was due to be considered by the borough council’s development control committee, three weeks ago.
But members refused to consider the scheme because sections of a report on the application were missing and they felt they had insufficient information on which to make a decision.
If approved, the proposals would result in the power station continuing in operation beyond 2020-25, contributing to the region’s electricity supply.
Officers are recommending that the council raise no objections to the scheme.
Cuerdley Parish Council – in whose area the plant is situated – is not objecting in principle.
But they have expressed concern at the likelihood of potential industrial developments in and around the application and the emissions likely to be caused by increased road and rail transport.
They are also asking for two additional conditions to be imposed. One is that the whole plant produces energy from coalonly and that toxic emissions are completely covered by a desulphurisation plant.
The other is that a “rear entrance” to the power station is built, linking up to the A562 at the Eight Towers roundabout in Widnes.
Planning consent already exists for FGD equipment in one generating unit.
The scheme will result in a significant increase in traffic on local roads during the construction period, from next year until 2008. There will be some 350 contractors on site, with 50 heavy lorry deliveries a day.
But Warrington is unlikely to suffer much as most of the traffic is expected to turn left, towards Widnes, when it leaves the power station, according to planners The application is supported by neighbouring Halton Council and there are no objections from English Nature, the Countryside Agency or the Environment Agency.
Installation of the equipment will require alterations to rail sidings and unloading equipment, enclosed conveyors for transporting limestone from the rail sidings to the FGD plant, storage buildings and other facilities. But it would all be built within the existing site boundary and will make little difference to the appearance of the power station.
The process will result in the production of gypsum which can be sold to the plasterboard industry. This will be exported from the site, although about 75 per cent of it will be by rail.

Village “CAT Walk” focuses
on local trouble spots

by Lesley Wilkinson

POLICE and parish councillors who took part in a walk around Culcheth and Glazebury, near Warrington, looking for trouble spots was a “great success,” according to Coun Keith Bland.
Six parish councillors and five police officers from the Community Action Team took part in the walk looking at problem areas in Culcheth, Mee Brow and Glazebury.
Coun Bland said: “Fortunately there was no evidence of drug taking found. There was lots of graffiti, alcohol bottles and cans, and parking on the pavement.
“It was a great success and officers have agreed to keep an eye on the problem sites,” he added.
Sites visited included under the bridges at Culcheth Linear Park, garage sites and the alleyway between Withington Avenue and Culcheth Hall Drive.
Coun Bland said: “We found lots of empty booze bottles and cans, but no evidence of drug taking as we did a few years ago.”

Students’ party treat
for hospital kids

by Terry Johnson

STUDENT kind-hearts from Warrington organised a Christmas party treat for youngsters in hospital.
The Priestley College students handed out gifts to patients in Warrington Hospitals’ children’s ward.
The treat was arranged as part of the students’ health and social care ‘A’-level studies.
College spokeswoman Bev Whittaker said: “We decided to buy presents for the children as a way of saying ‘thank you’ to staff on the ward for allowing us to go in. It’s giving something back to the community”.
Students who are linking theory with working practice will go on to train as nurses.
Senior children’s nurse, Jane Scott, said: “We go to great lengths to make Christmas a special time for children. These gifts will help us do that”.

Police rugby team
test out new kit

by Lesley Wilkinson

CHESHIRE Police Rugby Union Football Club’s brand new kit was used for the first time when they played at Warrington Sports Club.
The team competed in the quarter-finals of the Police Sport UK National Championships when they took on Staffordshire Police.
Previously the Cheshire team, comprising officers and police staff, had played in an old, worn-out strip as there were no funds to replace it. But the new kit has been sponsored by Keg Watch Limited.
It was presented to the team recently at the Halton Stadium.
Cheshire Police RUFC chairman, Superintendent Andy Mitchell, said: “This is the first time we have been sponsored and will enable us to continue playing as a team as we didn’t have the resources to replace the old kit. We are very grateful to Keg Watch for their support.”
Keg Watch Limited works with the police, carrying out investigations into abandoned and stolen kegs and casks.
Business support manager for the company Brian Beswick said: “Cheshire Police assist us in the recovery of stolen kegs locally and we have a close working partnership with them. Breweries can lose many millions of pounds through the theft of kegs and casks. People crush the steel and sell it on illegally. In the past 12 months alone we have put 15 cases forward to the CPS nationwide.”

Caravan torched
by arsonists

by staff reporter

ARSONISTS struck at Latchford, Warrington, early today, destroying a caravan kept at the rear of a house in Marbury Avenue.
Fire crews raced to the scene shortly after 5am but by the time they got there the caravan was in ruins.
A spokesman said: “There was nothing we could do, the flames spread very quickly. It was obviously malicious ignition.”
There was no danger to adjoining property, however.
Police are investigating.

News in brief

Carol concert
THE annual open air Christmas Eve carol concert at Lymm Cross will be held between 7pm and 8pm. Roads will be closed to traffic between 6.30pm and 8.30pm and alternative routes will be signposted.

Homes plan withdrawn
PLANS for 100 town houses and apartments on the old Monks Hall site in Old Liverpool Road, Sankey Bridges, Warrington, have been withdrawn by the developer.

Road closure
A TEMPORARY road closure has been approved in parts of Stocks Lane, Friends Lane and Meeting Lane, Penketh, Warrington from Monday, January 16 while structural maintenance work is carried out to the highway. It is not expected the work will take more than six weeks.

Scout plans
THE 4th Warrington South group have won planning consent for a new pitched roof on their headquarters in Parkgate Road, Stockton Heath to replace the existing flat roof. A replacement storeroom will also be built.


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Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

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